Attacked by Dogs on My First Day in Peru
Dealing with a Rough Start in Huaraz and Moving Forward
¡Hola! ¿Cómo estás?
On Sunday, after flying from Medellin to Lima and catching a bus straight to Huaraz, the adventure capital of Peru, I arrived eager to explore this beautiful place. However, my first day here turned out to be quite an adventure.
The Unexpected Dog Attack
I was walking around, getting a feel for the city, when two stray dogs rushed at me out of nowhere. They were really aggressive, and I could do nothing to avoid them. One of them bit me on my calf. I tried to stay calm and move away, but they kept coming at me, snapping and barking. I was the only one around, and eventually, I had to kick them to get them to back off. It was intense. The wound is nothing to worry about. I was wearing jeans, which provided some extra padding, though now they have teeth marks.
I've heard that many dog owners in the mountains of Peru treat their dogs poorly. They often see them only as guards and abandon them on the streets. This mistreatment causes a lot of stress for the dogs, and sadly, they frequently attack people. It's a challenging situation for both the animals and the locals.
The Hospital Visit
Afterward, I walked home, cleaned the wound as best as possible, and headed to the hospital. Thankfully, the staff was very friendly and patient with my poor Spanish. They took care of everything for free since the hospital was public. I'm getting all the rabies shots there. I'm lucky this happened on my first day, so I don't have to change my itinerary much.
Even though the hospital cost nothing, I contacted my insurance, SafetyWing. They replied quickly with instructions on how to proceed with the coverage. I have yet to test the insurance, but they've responded effectively to my inquiries. I've contacted them before, and they always respond promptly.
Looking Ahead
Despite the unexpected start, I'm still looking forward to exploring Huaraz. There's much to explore and experience here, and I can't wait to share more positive updates with you all. The mountains, the food, and the adventures ahead still call my name.
I'm glad that despite this experience, I don't feel stressed about it. I'm truly happy to be here, and it feels right. These small challenges, while surprising, are insignificant in the grand scheme of things and often become good stories later on. Plus, I'm grateful that I can trust myself to handle whatever comes my way. Trusting myself frees me from the fear of "what ifs" and allows me to live how I want. I hope you, too, have the confidence to welcome life's unexpected moments and live freely.
Stay safe, and I will talk to you next week!
Thanks for reading,
Nomad Phil